We don’t get it. Why do the Aussies get such cool Fords and we’re made to live with the Mustang and Shelby variations as our only hot rods? Whether it’s the god-forsaken EPA or the fickleness of the American consumer, the truth is that Australia has much cooler Fords that we do.

Case in point – the new Ford 2008 Falcons, tweaked by Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) division. Expected to be powered by either/both a 4-liter turbocharged inline 6 or the Boss 5.4L V8 boss, they are expected to make well over 400 horsepower.

Ford’s press release:

FPV Announces New Model Range

Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) today officially unveiled a selection of its highly anticipated new Falcon-based range, lifting the covers off the latest evolutions of its performance GT sedan, F6 sedan and Super Pursuit Ute.

“Today we have given the public a glimpse of a new era in Australian performance motoring,” said Ford Performance Vehicles General Manager Rod Barrett.

“Our new model range offers performance enthusiasts the ultimate in performance engineering, luxury appointments and sports styling.” For the first time, the Ford badge will not appear on FPV models. The new-look FPV vehicles will feature FPV badges prominently on the centre grille and centre boot lid. “Featuring the FPV badge on all our new models is a major repositioning for the FPV brand,” said Barrett.

“It signifies the maturing of our brand and the evolution of FPV as Ford’s performance partner.” As with Ford, FPV has repositioned its high performance sedan and Ute model variants, with seven stunning vehicles divided into the GT series and F6 series families.

“The repositioning of the vehicle line-up has been done for similar reasons to the Ford G Series,” said Barrett. “It is all about growing the brand and attracting new customers. The GT series family continues our strong iconic heritage, while the F6 series family caters to those performance car enthusiasts who prefer a slick turbo charged six-cylinder to a thundering V8.”

The GT series family retains the familiar GT and GT-P sedan nameplates, and introduces the stylish new luxury GT-E sedan. “The GT-E is a sophisticated luxury performance car that will cater for those buyers that don’t want the stripes, wings, and seats offered in the GT-P; however want to retain all the performance attributes of that car,” said Barrett.

The Super Pursuit and Pursuit Ute variants complete the GT series range.
The F6 series family features the F6 sedan and F6 Ute – the Typhoon and Tornado nomenclature are discontinued on the new vehicles.

Significant ride, handling and safety advancements have been made to the new FPV stable. Each new model variant has been fully engineered and designed to provide the performance enthusiast with the ultimate in Australian performance motoring.

Significantly, FPV customers will also have a choice of manual or auto transmission at no additional cost. “The option of auto or manual transmission at no extra cost caters for both our luxury and overt sports customers, without penalising either for their choice of transmission,” said Barrett.

FPV has produced exhilarating performance upgrades across the GT and F6 range, however the exact engine performance power and torque figures will be revealed closer to the on sale date in June.